HAMDEN, Connecticut – Emma Woods scored the game-winning goal 2:04 into overtime Friday afternoon for the No. 1 seed Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey team as the Bobcats (27-2-5) knocked off the No. 8 seed Rensselaer Engineers (10-16-7), 3-2, in game one of their best-of-three ECAC Hockey Quarterfinal matchup at High Point Solutions Arena.
Nicole Connery picked up an assist on the play to become the fourth player in program history to record her 100th career point for the Bobcats. Connery is the second player this season to score their 100th point after Nicole Kosta achieved the feat in October. In addition to Kosta, Connery joins Kelly Babstock and Shiann Darkangelo in the 100-point club.
Connery’s goal for the Bobcats was her 13th of the season, tying her single-season career-high set last season for the Bobcats. She also picked up her 22nd assist of the season on Woods’ game-winner for her 100th career point and 35th of the season. Connery’s two points extend her multiple-point streak to three games as she has tallied eight points over that span.
Woods scored two goals in the win for the Bobcats for her 10th and 11th tallies of the season. With two goals, Woods has now scored 35 times in her collegiate career and the multi-goal effort was the third of her career. Woods has 34 points this season, good for third on the team.
Defensemen Kristen Tamberg and Emma Greco each picked up assists in the victory for the Bobcats.
Rensselaer took a 1-0 lead with exactly two minutes to play in the second period on Jaimie Grigsby’s second goal of the season. Kosta sent a pass across the blue line on the offensive end but Grigsby stepped up and picked off the pass. She touched the puck forward and skated with speed one-on-one with Sydney Rossman before burying the shot.
The Engineers scored again with about 31 seconds left in the second period on Josefine Hansen’s second goal of the season. Shayna Tomlinson touched the puck to Lauren Wash on the right boards. Wash fed a pass to the point for Hansen where she knuckled a shot through traffic past Rossman for the goal.
Woods got a goal back for the Bobcats just 3:52 into the first period with for her 10th of the season and cut Rensselaer’s lead to 2-1. Greco wrapped a puck around the left boards to Cianfarano who skated around behind the net and circled into the slot. Cianfarano dropped a pass back to Woods on top of the crease. Woods’ initial shot was blocked by Hannah Behounek but Woods quickly collected the rebound and deposited it past Rensselaer goaltender Lovisa Selander.
The Bobcats tied up the game with 12:21 left in the third period on Connery’s 13th goal of the season to make it 2-2. Tamberg hit Connery with a pass before accidentally blocking Connery’s shot. The rebound kicked right back to Connery who skated in low at the left face-off circle and roofed the puck past Selander.
The Bobcats completed their playoff comeback just 2:04 into overtime on Woods’ second goal of the game. Connery had the puck on the left boards and pass it to Woods in the right corner. Woods then skated up the circle before leaving the puck for Cianfarano who used her speed to beat the defender and fire a shot on the right side of the crease. Initially saved by Selander, the rebound popped up to Woods on the back door who tucked home the game-winner.
Quinnipiac and Rensselaer will return to the ice on Saturday (2pm) for game two of their best-of-three ECAC Hockey Quarterfinals at High Point Solutions Arena.
